Attachment adapted to be applied to sewing machines for repairing runs in fabrics



Oct. 24, 1933. c s, v so 1,931,588

ATTACHMENT ADAPTED TO BE APPLIED TO SEWING MACHINES FOR REPAIRING RUNSIN FABRICS Filed Oct. 13, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l III/I- INVENTOR C'barfes5. Mvelson J A? v RNEY Oct. 24, 19339 c. s. NEVELSON 1,931,588ATTACHMENT ADAPTED TO BE APPLIED TO SEWING MACHINES FOR REPAIRING RUNSIN FABRICS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 13, 1930 INVENTOR 1 {9:14('barles iflevelsan J I J9 AT: NEY

Patented Oct. 24, 1933 ATTACHMENT ADAPTED TO BE APPLIED T SEWING MACHINES FOR REPAIRING RUNS IN FABRICS Charles S. Nevelson, New York, N. Y.,assignor to Nathan Berliawsky, Rockland, Me.

Application October 13, 1930. Serial No. 488,212

27 Claims; (01. 66--1.5)

This invention relates to sewing machine attachments and particularly,to attachments for repairing runs, ravels, drop stitches and the like inknitted fabrics such as hosiery, underwear and I like articles.

Such runs have heretofore been repaired by the manual manipulation of aso-called latchneedle. Machines for the operation of such a needle havealso been used to some extent, but such machines are built especiallyfor that purpose and are comparatively expensive.

My invention contemplates the provision of simple and inexpensive'meanswhich can be attached to an ordinary sewing machine, for use inconnection with a latch needle secured to the attachment or to theneedle bar of the machine, whereby the needle is positively opened andclosed at the proper time to grip the dropped stitches and to knit thesame together automatically. My invention further contemplates theprovision of adjustable means cooperating with the needle opening andclosing means for properly holding and supporting the work such as astocking; and putting the desired tension thereon during the repairingoperation.

The various objects of my invention will be clear from the descriptionwhich follows, and from the drawings, in which,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a typical sewing machine, showing my newattachment applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a similar view on an enlarged scale of my new attachment andof one type of the fabric holding form used in connection therewith.

Fig. 3' is a side view of a slightly modified form of my new device asit appears in operative position on a sewing machinel Fig. 4 is a topplan view of the same, partly in section on the line 44 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is'a top plan view of one form of. my improved work holdingsupport, showing my new attachment free of the opening therein butnevertheless in position to perform the run repairing operation.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section of my improved support, takenon the line6--6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is a top plan view of a modified form of my attachment,consisting of a'presser foot which is adapted to be attached to thepresser foot bar of any of the common types of sewing machines toreplace the usual presser foot.

Fig. 8'is a front view of the same, showing the latch needle secureddirectly to the needle bar of the machine. 1

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of a portion of the presser foot commonly usedin sewing machines, to which a modified form of my new attachment hasbeen applied.

Fig. 10 is a front view and partial section of the same.

Fig. 11 is a top plan view of another modified form of the same.

Fig. 12 is a side view and partial section of the same.

Fig. 13 is a front view of a new needle adapted to be used with my newattachment.

Fig. 14 is a similar view of another form of the latch needle and of theauxiliary means for insuringthe closing of the latch.

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of a simplified form of hose support.

Fig. 16 is a front view, partly in section, of my new attachment, and ofthe feeding means for the work, showing one of the steps in theoperation of repairing a run.

Fig. 17 is a similar view of the same, showing another step wherein theneedle has been opened ready to grip the succeeding stitch.

Fig. 18 is a similar view of the same, showing the needle in theposition wherein it is about to close on the succeeding stitch and topull'the thread through the loop, and

Fig. 19 is a top plan view on an enlarged scale of a knitted fabricshowing a run therein partly repaired.

In that practical embodiment of my invention which I have illustrated byway of example, I have provided-means which, it is intended, be attachedto and used in connection with a sewing machine such'as one of theSinger type. As is well known, such sewing machines include areciprocating needle bar as 10 and a presser foot bar as 11, bothcarried by a suitable head 12 and operated by the rotation of the shaft13, as by means of the hand wheel 14, or by means of a suitable beltoperating in the groove of the pulley 15 Such machines also are providedwith a platen 16 on which the work is intended to rest, and throughwhich the toothed feed member 1'? projects to feed the work. Suitabledriving I means operatively connects the shaft13 to the needle bar 10,to reciprocate said needle bar on the rotation of the pulley 15. Asillustrated, the reciprocating means comprises a crank as 19 secured tothe shaft 13, and operatively connected to the member 20 carrying theneedle bar 10, whereby said needle bar is reciprocated on the rotationof the shaft 13. The feed member 17 is also raised and lowered at theproper time to feed the work during the reciprocation of the needle bar.The mechanism I have illustrated for this purpose is similar to thatcustomarily used in sewing machines and includes the crank 21 mounted onthe shaft 13 and connected to the crank 22 on one end of the shaft 23 asby means of the rod 24. At the other end of the shaft 23 is the crank25, connected to the feed member 1'7, whereby rotation of the shaft 13oscillates the feed member in the proper direction to advance thework.

Means are also customarily provided for lifting the feed member intoengagement with the work and for depressing said member at the propertime. As illustrated, said means comprises the cam 26 on the shaft 13which oscillates the lever 27, pivoted as at 28 to the head 12. At thelower end of said lever 27 is a suitable ball joint 29, by means ofwhich said lever is connected to the crank 30 pivoted as at 31. Thecrank 30 is in turn connected to a bar 32 provided with a bent end as 33passing through a suitable slot or groove as 34 in the feed member. Onthe rotation of the shaft 13, the crank 30 is oscillated, therebyreciprocating the bar 32 toward the left and right alternately as viewedin Fig. 1, and drawing the bent end of said bar through the groove 34,thereby alternately raising and depressing the feed member. It will beunderstood that the mechanism above described is intended to be merelyillustrative of the usual mechanism for the same purposes customarilyused in sewing machines, and that I do intend to limit myself to thespecific mechanism so described, since my new attachment is adapted foruse with any type of sewing machine to which a presser foot may beattached, and which is intended to reciprocate a needle.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, I have there shown a form of mynew attachment which is intended to properly support a pivoted latchneedle 35 in such a manner that the possibility of vibration of saidneedle and consequent inaccuracy of engagement of the latch for openingand closing the latch, is reduced to a minimum. It is highly desirablethat such vibration be as little as possible for the reason that thelatch 36 of the needle, which latch is pivoted to the remainder of theneedle as at 37, should be accurately engaged for the opening andclosing operation. I therefore have shown, in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive,means for supporting the needle at a point close to its operative end.Said means takes the form of a presser foot 18 provided with anextension 38, by means of which the presser foot may. be suitablysecured to the presser foot bar 11,-as by a suitable set screw 39. Forguiding and controlling the needle in its movement, I prefer to providea pair of upstanding guide rods as 40 and 41 arranged preferably incoaxial spaced relation. The rod 40 is passed through a suitable openingas 42 in the needle holding extension 43, to which extension issecuredthe hollow guide 44, terminating in a suitable securing member 45. Therod 41 is inserted into the hollow guide 44, while the rod 40 isinserted into the opening 42. In order to secure the needle holdingextension 43 to the needle bar 10, said extension is secured to thehollow slide 44, which in turn is removably secured to the needle bar bysuitable means such as the bifurcated member 45. preferably insertedinto a suitable groove as 46 provided in many types of needle bars, andmay be firmly held therein as by means of a suitable hand screw 47threaded to the needle bar and having a suitable shoulder 48 engagingthe mem- Said member 45 is ber 45 and adapted to press it firmly againstthe bottom of the groove. It will be understood, however, that anysuitable means for securing the hollow guide 44 to the needle bar may beused instead, such as for example, a suitable set screw 145 passingthrough the member 45, or through a similar projection adapted to engagethe needle bar.

The needle holding extension 43 is provided with an opening 50, throughwhich the needle 35 may be inserted with the latch 36 in the properposition relatively to the presser foot. The member 44 is preferably ofsuch length that the extension 43 engages the needle close to thelowermost end thereof whereby possibility of vibration of the needleparticularly at high speeds is minimized. Said needle may furthermore bemade of sufficient length to enter the usual opening 51 in the needlebar should it be desired to brace both ends of the needle, and may befurther held thereto by means of the usual set screw, not shown, butwell known in the art. The needle is thereby securely held both at itsupper and lower ends, though it will be understood that if desired, ashort needle passing only through the needle opening 50 of the extension43 may be used. It will be seen that on the reciprocation of the needlebar 10, the hollow guide member 44 slides on the rod 41 while theextension 43 slides in the opening 42, whereby the entire attachment isbraced and guided during its reciprocatory movement, and accuratecontrol of the needle with a minimum amount of vibration is madepossible.

The presser foot 18 is provided with an opening 52, which may be in theform of a circular, polygonal, or otherwise shaped hole, or in the formof an elongated slot or the like, provided only that a wall as 53 isprovided thereon interposed in the path of the free end of the latch,and in the proper position to engage said end. The position of the wall53 of the opening 52 is such that it is arranged slightly rearwardly orforwardly of the free end 54 of the latch 36, depending on whether thelatch is in forward or rear position. When the needle therefor comesdown on the downward reciprocation of the bar 10, the end 54 engages theupper surface 55 of the presser foot and is thereby swung about itspivot 37 and opened to the position indicated in Fig. 17, wherein theend 54 projects slightly forwardly of the shank of the needle. On theupward movement of the bar 10, the end 54 of the latch engages the undersurface 56 of the presser foot whereby the needle is closed and passesupwardly back through the opening 52. To, aid thesurfaces to thusoperate the latch, part of the under surface adjacent the opening 52 maybecurved and slightly recessed as at 156 and the corresponding part ofthe upper surface 55 may be similarly curved and recessed. It will beseen, therefore, that by means of my new attachment, the needle isopened on its downward movement and closed on its upward movementwhereby the run repairing operation may be readily accomplished in amanner to be hereinafter more fully described, and as is illustratedparticularly in Figs. 16, 17 and 18.

In order to insure the engagement of the latch end 54 with that part ofthe presser foot adjacent the wall 53, the end 57 of the latch 58 may bebent or doubled over, or made in the form of a ball as shown in Figs. 13and 14. In that case, the ball, hook or bend projects somewhat forwardlyof the hook 59 of the needle. To further aid in insuring the opening andclosing operation, I prefer to form an oifset as 60 .(Fig. 13) in theneedle 61, at which ofiset the pivot 62 for the latch 58 is provided. Byso offsetting the pivot 62, the substantially vertical pressure upon thelatch end 63, serves better to swing the latch about the pivot, so thatthe needle may be properly opened and closed. As illustrated in Figs.13, 16, 1'1 and 18, the latch end 63 may be doubled over to form arounded end instead of being left straight as in the latch 36 or shapedinto a ball end as 57.

Moreover, to aid in closing the needle on its upward stroke, a suitableweighty sleeve as 6 1 (Fig. 14) 'may be arranged about the shank 65 ofthe needle, in position to remain at all times above the presser foot,said sleeve being of sufficient thickness to engage the upper surface ofthe presser footadjacent the wall 53. The sleeve may be positioned closeto the latch end of the needle resting on the latch thereof when theneedle is in its uppermost position. I On the downward movement of theneedle, the sleeve 64 engages the surface of the presser foot and isthereby halted while the needle shank 65 moves therethrough. On theupward movement of the needle, should the latch thereon fail to close,the sleeve 64 drops along the shank due to its own weight and engagingthe latch, swings it about its pivot to close the latched end of theneedle. The under surface 56 of the presser foot may also be suitablyshaped as at 156 to insure closing of the latch as has been previouslypointed out.

As illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, it will be understood that the needlemay be secured directly to the needle bar in the ordinary manner inwhich needles are secured to such bars in sewing machines, the upper end66 of the needle being suitably shaped for that purpose, and held by theusual set screw 67. It will be understood that the needle end 66 isflattened on at least one side, and that the needle opening 51 iscorrespondingly shaped so that the needle can be inserted into theneedle bar only in a definite position, said position being preferablythe one in which the latch of the needle is forward, ready to engage thepresser foot adjacent the wall 53. The guide rods 40 and 41 and thehollow guide 44 may be omitted, if desired, as shown in Figs. '7 to 12inclusive, and the presser foot attached directly to the presser footbar. For this purpose, I have illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, an annularmember 68 in the form of a cylinder carrying a series of one or more setscrews 69, which may be screwed through the member 68 into engagementwith the presser foot bar 11 to hold the presser foot in the properposition, regardless of the exact shape or size of the presser foot bar.

As shown in Figs. 9 and 10, I have provided an attachment which may besecured to any presser foot so as to provide a suitable opening 52 and awall 53 to open and close the latch of the needle. In this modification,the opening 52 is made in a member 70 having an upstanding lip as 71 atone edge thereof and a U-shaped portion 72 at the other edge thereof.The lip 71 engages the edge '73 of the presser foot, while the base ofthe U-shaped portion '72 engages the other edge '74 of said presserfoot. A suitable set screw as '75, passing through the upper flange '76of the member '70, engages the upper surface 55 of the presser foot tosecure the member '70 in its proper position, wherein the needle maypass through the opening 52.

As shown in Figs. 11 and 12, the opening 52 and the wall 53 may beprovided in a member 80, which is secured to the presser foot as bymeans of a member 81 T-shaped in cross-section. Said member is providedwith a constricted portion 32 passing into the slot 83 of the presserfoot, and engaging the walls of said slot, and is further provided withan enlarged upper flange 84 engaging the upper surface 55 of the presserfoot. The fit between the member 82, 84 and the presser foot surfacesmay be such that the member is held in its proper adjusted positionfrictionally. If desired, however, the members .82 and 86 instead ofbeing made integral with each other or with the remainder of the member80, may be made of separate parts and removably secured together.

My new attachment is intended for use in connectjon with a suitablesupport for the work. Since most of the work to be done is intended tobe the repair of runs in hosiery, the support takes the form of a memberon which a stocking may be stretched and suitably held. As shown in Fig.15, the support consists of a preferably though not necessarily fiatsheet 90 of suitable material such as metal, fibre, card-board, bakeliteor other material sufficiently rigid and of sumcient size to maintainthe stocking in its stretched position. Said member 90 is provided witha slot as 91 therein of suflicient width to expose a'run of the largestsize in the stocking and of sufiicient length to expose a run of maximumlength. The form 90 being sufiiciently wide to stretch the stocking, thestocking is slipped thereover with the run exposed in the slot 91whereafter suitable spring clips as 92 are passed about the form andabout the stocking to maintain it in position. A series of edge clips as93 may also be used to maintain the stocking in place on the holder. Theclips, however, are so arranged that the upper part 94 of the stockinglying on the uppersurface of the support may be pulled forwardly asufficient distance to expose the run 95. The form is then placed on theplaten 16 of the'machine with the presser foot 37 or presser foot bararranged in the slot 91. Said slot is made of just suflicient width tofit the presser foot or the bar therefor, so that the walls 96 of saidslot serve to guide the form rearwardly as the work is fed rearwardly bythe feed member 1'7. As the work progresses, the end clip 92 may beremoved and the stocking folded back and the clips shifted so that thefolded part of the stocking may be drawn forwardly to expose theremaining part of the run so that said run may be repaired.

As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the stocking support may take the form of anadjustable holder adapted to support and stretch stockings ofsubstantially any size. In this modification of the support, I prefer tomake said support of two parts and to secure said parts adjustablytogether. One part as 100 is provided with a re-= cess as 101 in whichthe extension 102 of the other part 103 is inserted and guided as bymeans of a suitable tongue and groove joint 104. An adjusting screw as105 is threaded into the extension 102, the head 106 of said screwresting thereon. At the upper end of the support, a similar adjustmentmay be provided, or, as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, a suitable turnbuckle 109 may be arranged for adjusting the relative positions of theparts 100 and 103. As shown, said turn buckle comprises the right andleft threaded screw 110, supported in suitable nuts as 111 secured toeach of the parts and operating in recesses 112 and 113 in therespective parts. The screw 109 may be suitably adjusted by means of apin passed through the opening 112 thereof.

It will be seen that one of the principal features of the presentinvention is the provision of a member interposed in the path of theneedle for opening and closing the latch thereof, whereby the latchneedle may be used on an ordinary sewing machine with the propermodification of the presser foot and in connection with a suitable worksupport.

As shown in Fig. 16, the needle is illustrated as having been closed,and engaging one of the cross threads or dropped stitches 120 of therun. Said thread, by being drawn upwardly into the position of Fig. 16,has been looped and is ready to be looped about the succeeding thread121. As theneedle with the loop 120 carried thereby moves downwardly,the toothed feed member 17 moves rearwardly in a direction of the arrowof Fig. 16, whereby the work together with the holder carried thereby isfed the proper distance rearwardly. The needle continuing its downwardmovement, the end of the latch strikes the upper surface of the presserfoot, or of the member '70 or 80, at a point immediately adjacent thewall 53 whereby the downward movement of the latch end is temporarilyprevented and said latch end is swung about its pivot into the openposition shown in Fig. 17. At this time, the loop 121 is in the positionillustrated in Fig. 17, having been advanced rearwardly the properdistance. As the needle now moves upwardly, the hook 59 thereof catchesthe next thread 121, the latch end at this time moving between the endof the loop 120 and said thread 121 and engaging the under face 56 ofthe presser foot, begins to close upon and to force said thread 121 intothe hook 59 of the needle. Further upward movement of the needle pullsthe thread 121 caught in the hook upwardly through the hole, completesthe closing of the latch, and brings the parts into the positionillustrated in Fig. 16 ready for the repetition of the operation.

It will be understood that during the advancing operation of the feedmember 1'7, said feed member is in its uppermost position but that saidfeed member is reciprocated forwardly, and at the same time depresdready to grip the work again, to advance it by the mechanism heretoforedescribed and customarily used in sewing machines.

It will be seen that I have provided simple, efficient and economicalmeans capable of ready attachment to an ordinary sewing machine andcapable of use by comparatively unskilled persons for the repair of runsin knitted fabric; that I have provided an improved needle designed tobe positively opened and closed for this purpose and that my newattachment and needle are preferably used in connection with my improvedwork support illustrated.

While I have shown and described certain specific embodiments of myinvention, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself thereto butintend to claim my invention as broadly as may be permitted by the stateof the prior art and the terms of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The combination with a machine having a reciprocatory needle bar, ofa pivoted latch needle, means for removably mounting said needle forreciprocation as a unit with said bar, and a presser foot having anopening therein, the operative end wall of said opening being verticallyaligned with a point on the latch of the needle intermediate the ends ofsaid latch whereby the latch is operated by the presser foot to open andclose the latch alternately on the reciprocation of the needle throughthe opening of the presser foot.

2. The combination with a reciprocatory pivoted latch needle, of anapertured presser foot arranged in the path of the needle with theaperture thereof in alignment with the major part of the needle, but outof alignment with the end of the latch, whereby part of the presser footadjacent the aperture engages the latch to open the latch on the strokeof the needle in one direction and to close the latch on the oppositestroke.

3. Attachment adapted to be removably secured to a sewing machine foralternately opening and closing a pivoted latch needle on thereciprocation of said needle including a member adapted to be arrangedin the path of the end of the latch closing the latch of a reciprocatorypivoted latch needle comprising an apertured presser foot arranged witha wall of the aperture in the path of the end of the latch and with theaperture in alignment with, and of sufficient diameter to receivefreely, the remainder of the needle.

5. An attachment adapted to be secured to a sewing machine foralternately opening and closing the latch'of a reciprocatory pivotedlatch needle, an apertured member adapted to have part thereof arrangedin the path of the end of the needle latch to engage said end on thereciprocation of the needle in either direction.

6. In an attachment for sewing machines for adapting such machines foruse in repairing runs in knitted fabrics, the combination with such amachine including needle reciprocating means, of a pivoted latch needleremovably securable to said means, and stationary means on theattachment in the' path of the end of the needle latch for alternatelyopening and closing said latch.

7. The combination with a machine including needle reciprocating means,of a pivoted latch needle removably securable to said means, and anapertured presser foot removably secured to the machine in position toengage the end of the latch on the reciprocation of the needle toalternately open and close the latch.

8. The combination with a machine including needle reciprocating means,of a pivoted latch needle removably securable to said means, anapertured presser foot removably secured to the machine in position toengage the end of the latch on the reciprocation of the needle toalternately open and close the latch, and means on said presser foot forbracing and guiding said needle during the reciprocation thereof and forcontrolling the vibration thereof at high speeds.

9. In a device of the character described, a reciprocating pivoted latchneedle, means for alternately opening and closing the latch of theneedle, and slotted work holding means, said work-holding means beingarranged to move relatively longitudinally of the opening and closingmeans and said needle being arranged to recipro cate into and out ofsaid slot to engage and pick up threads of the work crossing the slot.

10. In a run repairing mechanism operatively connectable to a sewingmachine to adapt said machine to repair runs in knitted fabrics, apivoted latch reciprocatory needle, stationary means on the mechanismfor alternately opening and closing the needle latch on thereciprocation of the needle, and'work supporting and stretching meanshaving an opening therein across which the run to be repaired is adaptedto be arranged for engagement by the needle on the passage of the needlethrough the opening.

11. In run repairing mechanism adapted to be removably connected to asewing machine -to adapt said machine to repair runs in knitted fabrics,a reciprocatory pivoted latch needle, an apertured presser foot foralternately opening and closing the latch of the needle on thereciprocation of the needle, work feeding means, and.

work supporting means adapted to be arranged above the feeding means,said supporting means having an elongated aperture therein into whichthe needle above the hook for opening and closing the hook, an enlargedrounded end on the latch, and means removably attached to the mechanismfor engaging said end to reverse the position of the latch on therelative movement of the latch and said means past each other.

13. In mechanism of the character described, a needle terminating in ahook, a latch on the needle for closing the hook, a pivot for the hookon the needle and offset from the axis of the needle to maintain thelatch at all times at an angle to the axis of the needle, and meansremovably attached to the mechanism and interposed in the path of the'needle for engaging the end of the latch to open and close the latchalternately.

14. In mechanism of the character described, an apertured presser foot,guide rods on said presser foot, means for removably securing thepresser foot to a part of said mechanism, a pivoted latch needle, meansslidably guided by the guide rods for removably carrying the needle, areciprocatory needle bar, means for removably securing the needlecarrying means to the needle bar, and a latch opening and closingportion on the presser foot adjacent the aperture thereof.

15. In mechanism of the character described, a presser foot, a pivotedlatch needle, means on said presser foot for alternately opening andclosing the latch of said needle on the reciprocation of the needle,comprising a rigid wall surrounding an aperture in the presser foot andarranged in the path of the end of the latch of the needle, areciprocatory needle bar, a hollow guide removably secured to saidneedle bar for reciprocation therewith, an extension on said hollowguide, means for removably securing the shank of the needle to saidextension, said extension having a guide opening therein and a pair ofguide rods upstanding from the presser foot for guiding and controllingthe movement of the needle, one of said rods telescoping into the hollowguide and the other of said rods being slid-= ably mounted in theopening of said extension.

16. In mechanism of the character described, a pivoted latch needle, areciprocatory needle bar, means for operatively and removably securingthe needle to the needle bar for reciprocation therewith, said meansserving also for guiding and controlling the movement of the needle, a

presser foot removably secured to the mechanism and stationary means onsaid presser foot interposed in the path of the end of the latch of theneedle for alternately opening and closing the latch.

17. In mechanism of thecharacter described, a reciprocatory pivotedlatch needle, stationary means on the mechanism interposed in the pathof the end of the latch of the needle for alternately opening andclosing said latch, apertured work supporting means arranged for thepassage of the needle into and out of the aperture thereof to engage thethreads of a run arranged at said aperture, and means for intermittentlyadvancing the work support on each complete reciprocation of the needle.a

18. In mechanism of the character described, a reciprocatory pivotedlatch needle, a presser foot removably secured to said mechanism andhaving a rigid wall surrounding an aperture therein and arranged in thepath of the end of the latch of the needle for alternately opening andclosing said needle, a slotted work support adapted to have the run ofan article of work arranged at the slot thereof, the walls of the slotof said work support being engaged by the sides of said presser foot andmeans for intermittently advancing the support on each completereciprocation of the needle.

19. In mechanism of the character described, a

' reciprocatory needle bar, a pivoted latch needle,

sage of the major part of the needle, said wall being interposed in thepath of the end of the latch of the needle for opening and closing thelatch on each stroke of the needle, a slotted work support adapted tohave the run of an article of work stretched thereon with the runexposed at the slot and underneath the aperture of said presser foot,said slot being of substantially the same width as that of said presserfoot, and means for advancing said support intermittently on eachcomplete reciprocation of the needle. 7

20. In an attachment for sewing machines for adapting such machines foruse in repairing runs in knitted fabrics, the combination with the bedplate and presser foot of such a machine, said bed plate and presserfoot having needle guide openings therein, of a needle support on thepresser foot, a needle movable in said guide openings and having a hook,and a latch for opening and closing entrance to the hook, and a controlmember on the presser foot for opening and closing said latch.

21. A 'device of the character described comprising a presser foot, alatch needle reciprocably supported by the presser foot, and means onthe presser foot for controlling the latch of the needle.

22. A device of the character described comprising a presser foot, alatch needle reciprocably supported by the presser foot, and surfaces onadapting such machines for use in repairing runs in knitted fabrics, thecombination with the bed plate, presser foot, and needle bar of themachine, of a needle carrier mounted on the needle bar, a latch needlemounted on the carrier and movable in openings in the bed plate andpresser foot, and means for controlling the latch for thread loopingoperations in the action of the needle.

26. In an attachment for sewing machines for adapting such machines foruse in repairing runs in knitted fabrics, the combination with the bedplate, presser foot, and needle bar of the machine, of a needle carriermounted on the needle bar, a latch needle mounted on the carrier andmovable in openings in the bed plate and presser memes foot, andcontrolling means on the bed plate and presser foot to open the latch onthe downward movement of the needle for a loop releasing action, and toclose the latch on the upward movement of the needle to draw a threadinto the hook of the needle and adapt said thread to be pulled upthrough a previously formed loop and the latter released from theneedle.

27. In an attachment for sewing machines for adapting such machines foruse in repairing runs in knitted fabrics, the combination with the bedplate, presser foot, and needle bar of the machine, of a needle carriermounted on the needle bar, a latch needle mounted on the carrier andmovable in openings in the bed plate and presser foot, said needlecarrier having a lost motion connection with the needle bar, contacts onthe needle carrier and needle bar for raising and lowering the needlecarrier in the reciprocations of the bar with intervening idlemovements, and controlling means on the bed plate and presser foot toopen the latch on the downward movement of the needle for a loopreleasing action, and to close the latch on the upward movement of theneedle to draw a thread into the hook of the needle and adapt saidthread to be pulled up through a previously formed loop and the latterreleased from the needle.

CHARLES S. NEVELSON.

